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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: deal · rock · game · lie · pass · branch · charge · patient

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. game — a match
  8. rock — music
  9. charge — electricity
  10. charge — in control
  11. branch — a division
  12. rock — a stone
  13. deal — to handle
  14. charge — a price
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. lie — to recline
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. game — wild animals
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. pass — a permit

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com